CAROLINE CATHERINE ANTONIW

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CAROLINE CATHERINE ANTONIW Mom passed away with her three children at her bedside on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at the hospital in Swan River, MB, at the age of 87 years. Mom, the sixth of 12 children, was born on May 10, 1925 to Alex and Mychalena (nee Kostiuk) Parobeck in the RM of Silver Creek. She grew up on the farm northwest of Angusville, MB. In the spring and fall Mom walked three miles to Tuckersmith School, in the winter the children were transported in an enclosed, heated, horse driven van. High school was a four mile walk to Angus School and this was after Mom and her siblings milked the cows and did the chores. They enjoyed sandwiches made from homemade bread and jam with a fresh apple carried in a tin honey pail for lunch. Since grade four Mom wanted to be a teacher and she was the first of many teachers in the Parobeck and Antoniw families, starting her career after grade 11. Mom was asked to teach on permit, a class of 36 students, grades one to nine, due to the shortage of teachers during the war time. She was 17 years old. Then she returned to school to complete grade 12 and Normal School in Winnipeg receiving her teaching certificate in 1947. She taught at Glen Elmo, Plumas, St. Mary's School, Tuckersmith and Strathclair and Rossburn after she was married. During summer breaks Mom would cook at her father's hotel in Angusville. It was also in Angusville, at her brother Evans' Pool Room and Bowling Alley that she fell in love with a handsome blacksmith, Michael Edward Antoniw. They were married in 1950 and eventually made their home in Rossburn. In time Mom's teaching evolved into substituting and part-time terms and she became a mother and homemaker. After the children left home Mom taught Religious Education at Rossburn Elementary and she became a student and facilitator of an Adult Bible Study group. Mom's passions were cooking and baking, gardening and reading the Bible. By faithfully studying the Bible Mom had found much peace and joy in her life. Mom was predeceased by her husband Mike; infant son David; grandson Alexander Cuddy; siblings: Anne Sawaryn, Peter, Rose Chuchmuch, Vera Rodeck, Victoria Kalynuk, Evans, John, Helen Sidoryk, Michael, Lillian Dzwonyk, Lawerence; in-laws: Joseph Sawaryn, Lillian Keller, Nick Chuchmuch, Joseph Rodeck, John Kalynuk, Paul Sidoryk, Stan Dzwonyk; Elsie and Walter Hachkowski, Anton Lepischak, Helen and Mike Shkwarok, Joe Antoniw, Martin Lepischak, Anne Antoniw, Peter Deydey; nephews: Adam Sawaryn, David Sidoryk, Currnie Chuchmuch; nieces: Mildred Weibe, Jill Rodeck; great-niece: Anne-Gretchen Weibe; great-nephew: Wes Shkwarok. Mom will be remembered by her children: Cathy, husband Wayne Muir and their son Nathan; Pat, husband Garth Cuddy and Johann; sisters-in-law: Mabel Parobec, Ann Parobec, Elsie Parobec, Louise Parobec; in-laws: Anne Lepischak, Polly Lepischak, John Antoniw, Matt and Marion Antoniw, Zelma Deydey, Harry and Jean Antoniw, Walter and Katherine Antoniw and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Vichnaya Pam'yat

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 22, 2012